In exactly 8 days, I will be nervously bouncing at the starting line in San Diego. And...as I am sitting here waiting for the ibuprofen to kick in so that I can go out for my last weekend run of my training, I am beginning to feel the first waves of anxiety hit. What if my knee gives out? What if this awful pain in my shin gets worse? What if my lungs decide they've had enough? The body is such an unreliable and finicky machine and after the hell I've put it through the last couple of months, what if it decides to revolt? 26.2 miles is long and it still scares me! After all, the most I've run is 21. I'm no fool and I know those last 5 miles will be excruciating.Right now, my mom would be telling me to repeat positive thoughts out loud..."I can do this." "26 miles is easy." "I am strong!" This was a familiar scene in our relationship. I would just roll my eyes. It's just not me. Don't get me wrong. I am not a negative person. In fact, I am actually very positive. I believe in myself. But, I call it like it is and when the pain is bad, I say it.
When I ran the Whiskey Half Marathon a few weeks ago, I spent a few minutes of the hardest part of the race (about mile 5) running alongside a very friendly and, in my opinion, inappropriately happy guy. We had been climbing this mountain for the last 45 minutes and I felt like I was going to die. He knew I was in pain because, well frankly, I kept saying how much this race sucked! This annoyingly happy guy just started repeating over and over, "This mountain is our friend. This feels great. Yeah! Yeah!Yeah! I love this!" Ugh! That was enough for me. Way too much positivity. I had to break away and find other haters to run with (wasn't hard!). I know. I am a sports psychologist's worst nightmare.
I know that 26.2 miles is hard. If it weren't, more than one tenth of one percent of the US population would have run a marathon.
I've done the training and I have a cause.
Now, I will just need my body to hang tough for 4 hours on the pavement.
And, maybe I'll say a few positive affirmations along the way...just for Mom.
9 comments:
Sara,
I know it will be hard but I know you can and will do it. Because you are a fighter. Seriously, if there is anything I have learned about you in these last few years it is how amazing you are.
Good luck and I know you will do great!
Oh Sara, you will do great! You have so many people who believe in you. I am amazed by your strengh abd willingness to do this. Can't wait to hear all about it!!! Good luck!
Oops, I accidentally just deleted my comment! See, I am new to blogger:)
You will do great in San Diego! The excitement of the race and what you are running for will take over and you will finish strong! Someone once told me, "Pain is weakness leaving the body". You can do it. Best of luck and have a blast!
YOU CAN DO THIS!!! Can't wait to hear all about it!
I don't even know you that well, and your vibes and blog scream positive Women, mother, friend and everything else you do in life!!!! I am so excited for you to run this, and to go through the finish line with a huge smile. You have so many cheerleaders cheering you on. Good luck lovely lady!!!!
Good Luck! It's going to suck but it will be worth it in the end.....
Hi Sara,
I heard from Natalie that you are running your first marathon soon. I ran my first a year ago with very little training and lots of knee and shin problems.
Just want to let you know that you can and will do it. Just tell yourself it's only 4 hours of one day of your life. Thats it, 4 hours and then you can go on to a new goal. I'm not going to say my knees and shins didn't act up and bother me on race day, they did. But, not as bad as they had during training. The rush you will get from the gun sounding knowing you are about to start and finish a goal will carry you through. I love that you are running with a purpose and for not only yourself, but your mother as well. Good luck to you. You will look back on this with great memories. Take care.
Lisa Harris
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